NEWPORT Gwent Dragons winger Matthew Pewtner is still being monitored over a concussion suffered at the Singha Premiership 7s in pre-season.

The 24-year-old is yet to begin his return to play protocol after being forced off in the quarter-final clash with Sale at the Twickenham Stoop on August 28.

Pewtner, who was unable to join in the celebrations with his teammates after the stunning victory over Wasps in the final, suffered a nasty concussion in the European Rugby Challenge Cup win in Newcastle in January that disrupted the second half of his season.

The Dragons are still awaiting a full report from a specialist into the knee injury suffered by wing Tom Prydie in last weekend’s loss to Leinster but medical staff are “optimistic” after initial scans.

Hooker Rhys Thomas should be back in the coming weeks after missing the trip to Dublin with a foot injury while lock Andrew Coombs and centre Pat Leach are making good progress after summer knee operations.

Unfortunately that is a fate that awaits Keagan Bale after the Wales Under-20s loosehead prop, who had been playing for Ebbw Vale this season, suffered a knee injury training with the Dragons at their Ystrad Mynach base.